Plan your week with wellness in mind, with these health and fitness-focused activities to try in the UAE.
Dress as Mr Claus for the Dubai Festival City Santa Run
UAE residents looking to add a little festive spirit to their fitness routines can sign up for the Dubai Festival City Santa Run. The fun run will take place on Friday, December 11 at 8am, and will cover the Promenade and Marsa Plaza.
People of all ages and abilities are encouraged to sign up, with two distances – 2.5 kilometres and 5km – available. While participants will receive a free Santa T-shirt, hat and beard, they can also get creative with their own Santa outfits to compete for the best dressed prizes. Tickets are priced at Dh125.
Registrations are open until midnight, on Wednesday, December 9, at raceme.ae/santa.
Bounty Beets launches biweekly yoga classes
The healthy restaurant and cafe at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina has launched a biweekly Namaste Breakfast yoga session to encourage UAE residents to start their day on the right note.
The classes will take place every Wednesday and Saturday from 9am to 10.15am, led by instructor and life coach Dalia Halabi on Wednesdays and yogi Melissa Tweedie on Saturdays. Guests can expect sessions that take them through a variety of poses and breathing techniques, all set in the lush Bounty Beets outdoor area.
After the session, participants can get a 25 per cent discount on a la carte breakfast menu, and a complimentary detox shot. Guests are required to bring their own yoga mats and water. A single yoga class is priced at Dh65, five classes go for Dh310, and a package of 10 classes is priced at Dh590.
More information can be found at bountybeets.com.
Sign up for an online dance session with Pointine
Online dance platform Pointine launched in the Middle East last month, bringing a number of dance lessons – from ballet to belly dance – straight to people’s screens. The website and app offers beginners and advanced masterclasses with a number of regional dance instructors through pre-recorded content.
Learn the art of salsa from Latin American and ballroom dancer Alexandra C Cojocari, ballet from classically trained dancer Tomomi Aramaki, and contemporary dance from Lana Fahmi, the principal dancer and choreographer at Sima Dance Company. Cham Al Malla, founder of Pointine says she launched the website so people could “have an outlet and de-stress through dancing during these unprecedented times. Dancing is not limited to any age group, one can learn at any stage."
The platform is currently offering a 30-day free trial, after which the fee is $19 per month for unlimited access to videos on all its dance styles.
Plan a wellness weekend with Retreatmi
After the excesses of the long weekend, those dreaming of a getaway with a focus on health and wellness can check out online healthy adventure hub Retreatmi. On the horizon is a wellness weekend with The Mountain Centre Ras Al Khaimah, which is offering one-night or two-night packages between Thursday and Saturday, December 10 and 12.
Visitors can partake in a number of wellness activities such as morning yoga, trekking and a fitness obstacle course, and staying in a villa-style tent with modern amenities – all set within natural surroundings, with plenty of fruit trees.
Simple and healthy meals will be prepared by an in-house chef. Packages start from Dh782 per person.
Sign up for a biking challenge in Ajman
Ajman Tourism Development Department has organised a series of community races in collaboration with Al Qudra Sports Management. Outdoor enthusiasts looking to challenge themselves can sign up for the Ajman Time Trial, which will take place at Al Zorah on Friday, December 4, from 7am.
Cyclists will race against the clock, with each participant starting individually, with a minute's gap in between. Participants can enjoy views of the greenery and wildlife found in the area as they complete 10km. Registration for the event is Dh105.
Meanwhile, the Amina Hospitals Half Marathon will take place on Friday, December 25, also at Al Zorah, with more details to be announced in the coming days. All community races will have precautions in place including temperature checks, mandatory masks and gloves, limited participants and social distancing measures.
Home-grown athleisure brand L’Couture launches new range
Female athleisure brand L’Couture has launched its new collection, Skin V2, featuring sportswear that is created with comfort and confidence in mind.
The range offers sports bras, biker shorts, leggings and jackets in four colour variations – black, khaki, black leopard and black camo. Made from polyester and spandex, both leggings and shorts are high-waisted, while the sports bras are made from a breathable material.
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Atalanta v Juventus (6pm)
AC Milan v Napoli (9pm)
Torino v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Sunday
Bologna v Parma (3.30pm)
Sassuolo v Lazio (6pm)
Roma v Brescia (6pm)
Verona v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sampdoria v Udinese (9pm)
Lecce v Cagliari (11.45pm)
Monday
SPAL v Genoa (11.45pm)
MATCH INFO
Day 2 at Mount Maunganui
England 353
Stokes 91, Denly 74, Southee 4-88
New Zealand 144-4
Williamson 51, S Curran 2-28
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Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
Gully Boy
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Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
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Rating: 4/5 stars
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- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
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Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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%3Cp%3EThe%20influx%20of%20talented%20young%20Afghan%20players%20to%20UAE%20cricket%20could%20have%20a%20big%20impact%20on%20the%20fortunes%20of%20both%20countries.%20Here%20are%20three%20Emirates-based%20players%20to%20watch%20out%20for.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EHassan%20Khan%20Eisakhil%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMohammed%20Nabi%20is%20still%20proving%20his%20worth%20at%20the%20top%20level%20but%20there%20is%20another%20reason%20he%20is%20raging%20against%20the%20idea%20of%20retirement.%20If%20the%20allrounder%20hangs%20on%20a%20little%20bit%20longer%2C%20he%20might%20be%20able%20to%20play%20in%20the%20same%20team%20as%20his%20son%2C%20Hassan%20Khan.%20The%20family%20live%20in%20Ajman%20and%20train%20in%20Sharjah.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMasood%20Gurbaz%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20opening%20batter%2C%20who%20trains%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Academy%2C%20is%20another%20player%20who%20is%20a%20part%20of%20a%20famous%20family.%20His%20brother%2C%20Rahmanullah%2C%20was%20an%20IPL%20winner%20with%20Kolkata%20Knight%20Riders%2C%20and%20opens%20the%20batting%20with%20distinction%20for%20Afghanistan.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOmid%20Rahman%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20fast%20bowler%20became%20a%20pioneer%20earlier%20this%20year%20when%20he%20became%20the%20first%20Afghan%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE.%20He%20showed%20great%20promise%20in%20doing%20so%2C%20too%2C%20playing%20a%20key%20role%20in%20the%20senior%20team%E2%80%99s%20qualification%20for%20the%20Asia%20Cup%20in%20Muscat%20recently.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
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The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Ponti
Sharlene Teo, Pan Macmillan
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 849Nm
Range: 456km
Price: from Dh437,900
On sale: now
THE SPECS – Honda CR-V Touring AWD
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Power: 184hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 244Nm at 3,900rpm
Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
0-100kmh in 9.4 seconds
Top speed: 202kmh
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
Price: From Dh122,900
